A California maker of stand-up paddleboards sets up shop at Port Manatee

Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 9:00 p.m.

PORT MANATEE - A California-based stand-up paddleboard company has big plans to grow the specialty watersport in Southwest Florida.

To do so, Hovie SUP has opened a 20,000- square-foot manufacturing operation in Port Manatee, the company's third U.S. plant, to serve the East Coast.

Within the next year, the company will employ about two dozen, owner Brian Hovnanian said Wednesday.

Hovnanian contends that the company's new manufacturing center is further proof that Florida is becoming the paddleboarding "hub of the world."

"This is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world," he said. "And what better place to expand than Florida, where the weather and water is perfect for SUP?"

Hovnanian wanted specifically to open in Southwest Florida, he said, because the glass-like waters in the Gulf of Mexico and the bays are ideal for the sport.

Stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP, entails riding an oversized surfboard standing up. The sport also uses an oar, similar to the kind found in kayaking or canoeing, to glide across the water.

With the opening of the plant, Hovie will no longer outsource paddleboard construction to China or Thailand, as it had done previously, Hovnanian said.

Hovie joins Venice-based Zap Skimboards Inc. in making watersport equipment in Southwest Florida. Zap, which was founded 30 years ago, is the world's largest maker of skimboards, which are wave-riding devices similar to surfboards, but smaller.

Hovnanian, a retired professional surfer, began making surfboards in the 1980s. He started making handcrafted stand-up paddleboards six years ago out of his Newport Beach, Calif., surfboard plant, just as the sport was gaining popularity.

Like surfing, paddleboarding grew in popularity in Hawaii and was first done by surfers as a low-impact way of exercising in the 1960s.

Today, Hovie makes various paddleboards, from 12-foot long boards used for competitive racing to open water paddleboards and boards that can be used in lakes. Prices range from $500 to $3,000 per board.

Hovie's boards are designed by yacht designer Tim Kernan, of Kernan Yacht Designs.

The sport has taken off in recent years as a leisure activity and tourist attraction in coastal cities.

Bob McFarland, owner of Sarasota Paddleboard Co., remembers struggling to find paddleboards when he started his rental, lesson and excursion company in Sarasota seven years ago.

"Now the appetite for the sport is enormous," McFarland said. "Over the last three years, it has totally exploded."

During its six years of existence, Hovie has spread across the country. The company's boards are now sold in nine Florida stores, although none in Sarasota or Manatee counties.

"Hovie SUP is an excellent brand, and Brian is a shaker in the SUP community," McFarland said. "To have them in the area is only going to grow the sport."

As part of the company's Florida debut, Hovie will host the Sarasota SUP Race Series beginning June 22 at Siesta Key Beach.

A new line of molded hollow paddleboards -- the first batch made at Hovie's new Port Manatee operation -- will be on display. Hovnanian also is planning a race at Nathan Benderson Park.

<p><em>PORT MANATEE</em> - A California-based stand-up paddleboard company has big plans to grow the specialty watersport in Southwest Florida.</p><p>To do so, Hovie SUP has opened a 20,000- square-foot manufacturing operation in Port Manatee, the company's third U.S. plant, to serve the East Coast.</p><p>Within the next year, the company will employ about two dozen, owner Brian Hovnanian said Wednesday.</p><p>Hovnanian contends that the company's new manufacturing center is further proof that Florida is becoming the paddleboarding "hub of the world."</p><p>"This is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world," he said. "And what better place to expand than Florida, where the weather and water is perfect for SUP?"</p><p>Hovnanian wanted specifically to open in Southwest Florida, he said, because the glass-like waters in the Gulf of Mexico and the bays are ideal for the sport.</p><p>Stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP, entails riding an oversized surfboard standing up. The sport also uses an oar, similar to the kind found in kayaking or canoeing, to glide across the water.</p><p>With the opening of the plant, Hovie will no longer outsource paddleboard construction to China or Thailand, as it had done previously, Hovnanian said.</p><p>Hovie joins Venice-based Zap Skimboards Inc. in making watersport equipment in Southwest Florida. Zap, which was founded 30 years ago, is the world's largest maker of skimboards, which are wave-riding devices similar to surfboards, but smaller.</p><p>Hovnanian, a retired professional surfer, began making surfboards in the 1980s. He started making handcrafted stand-up paddleboards six years ago out of his Newport Beach, Calif., surfboard plant, just as the sport was gaining popularity.</p><p>Like surfing, paddleboarding grew in popularity in Hawaii and was first done by surfers as a low-impact way of exercising in the 1960s.</p><p>Today, Hovie makes various paddleboards, from 12-foot long boards used for competitive racing to open water paddleboards and boards that can be used in lakes. Prices range from $500 to $3,000 per board.</p><p>Hovie's boards are designed by yacht designer Tim Kernan, of Kernan Yacht Designs.</p><p>The sport has taken off in recent years as a leisure activity and tourist attraction in coastal cities.</p><p>Bob McFarland, owner of Sarasota Paddleboard Co., remembers struggling to find paddleboards when he started his rental, lesson and excursion company in Sarasota seven years ago.</p><p>"Now the appetite for the sport is enormous," McFarland said. "Over the last three years, it has totally exploded."</p><p>During its six years of existence, Hovie has spread across the country. The company's boards are now sold in nine Florida stores, although none in Sarasota or Manatee counties.</p><p>"Hovie SUP is an excellent brand, and Brian is a shaker in the SUP community," McFarland said. "To have them in the area is only going to grow the sport."</p><p>As part of the company's Florida debut, Hovie will host the Sarasota SUP Race Series beginning June 22 at Siesta Key Beach.</p><p>A new line of molded hollow paddleboards -- the first batch made at Hovie's new Port Manatee operation -- will be on display. Hovnanian also is planning a race at Nathan Benderson Park.</p><p><empty></p>